Life expectancy at birth in Australia dropped slightly (by around 0.1-0.2 years to 83.2 at birth), in the latest calculation from the ABS. That’s not surprising. Mostly due to Covid-19 deaths, mortality was worse in 2022 and 2023 than in recent years.Continue Reading
For this post, I’ve created a little visualisation for the experience around the world. Our paper has a section looking at that experience, and I’ve selected 20 countries for this animated chart. It’s a sobering reminder, from here in Australia, how much worse the pandemic was in most of the rest of the world than it was here.Continue Reading
Four years after starting my COVID reflections series, I’ve learned that:
– Looking for a bit of beauty every day is a great way of finding positives in the world
– Writing about what is happening the world is much better for my state of mind than doomscrolling
– A community of people reading and reflecting is even better!
– Basic, widely available data and information is a vital part of government’s role, and one which they are still not doing enough.Continue Reading
I’ve just published my annual reading list for 2023 here, as I’ve done for over a decade. Do check out the whole thing, but here are a few of my particular favourites from this year’s list, which, as always, is a bit of an eclectic mixture.Continue Reading
I’m going to be voting Yes in the referendum about the Voice to Parliament. Making decisions about people without giving them a say is not a great way to make great decisions. And it hasn’t worked.
To illustrate, I’m going to talk about a measure I do know a lot about – mortality. The life expectancy of indigenous people in Australia is much lower than for all Australians. And the gap is growing.Continue Reading
The first phase of uninhabitability is uninsurability – Michael Mann, renowned climate scientist.
As climate risks to property increase, the people who live in places exposed to those risk are less and less able to afford to insure their properties. Which will start to create climate ghettos. And the housing crisis in Australia will worsen, as areas in areas with high risk of disaster become uninsurable.Continue Reading
Sexual harassment prevalence appears to have reduced in Australia over the past 5 years, but is still unacceptably high. And if you pick absolutely any marginalised group in society, that group is significantly more likely to experience sexual harassment. Continue Reading
Annually, the government here reports on whether it is “closing the gap” betwen indigenous and non indigenous Australians. A key measure is mortality, and the gap between indigenous and non indigenous mortality rates is widening, rather than narrowing.Continue Reading
Book Review: Escape from Model Land: How Mathematical Models can lead us Astray and What we can do about it, by Erica Thompson
Today I’m reviewing a book that I loved, a book for any actuary, or indeed model builder or model user to read. I felt as if I highlighted half of this book, so I’ll try and give you enough of a flavour of Thompson’s insights so that you feel compelled to read it yourself.Continue Reading
I’ve just published my annual round-up of my non fiction reading for 2022 here. There is a link to the whole list, but here are my favourites for the year (or at least the ones I keep telling people to go and read). A variety of topics, from history, public policy, life advice and some token fiction so I hope you’ll find one you like.Continue Reading